Monday

Oct 3, 2016 at 12:01 AM

SWANSBORO | Blue dots placed on a wall chart hanging in the Hammocks Beach State Park Visitor Center said a lot about the type of activities park users hope to see as plans are made for the park’s new mainland property.

The dots filled boxes for low-intensity activities that would have minimal impact on the park lands, such as a walking/hiking trail, kayaking and paddling, and interpretive programs. There were also a lot of marks in favor of the creation of living shorelines and remarks supporting wildlife/bird viewing areas.

“I want to see interactive programs, and I like the walking trails,” Swansboro resident Joan Gerdsen said as she marked her preferences on the chart.

Gerdsen was one of about 90 people who stopped by an open house-style meeting held Thursday night to give the public an opportunity to comment on the ideas and vision for the park as plans are made for potential uses of the newly acquired mainland property.

The idea of a multi-ramp boat launching facility on the property has garnered opposition since being identified as a project to be funded by the recently approved state bond referendum.

There were blue dots on the chart indicating support for a boat ramp, but notes posted around the box said high-intensity activity should not be allowed in the park and asked that planners “preserve the pristine shoreline.”

Many of those attending the public comment session said they came out to show their opposition to a boat ramp within the park.

Donna Skubinna of Swansboro said a boat ramp would be detrimental to the waters along Queens Creek, which are still open to shellfishing and used by local fishermen for crabbing and other activities.

She said concerns about overcrowded boat ramps in the area only apply to about 12 weeks during the year. Skubinna said she stopped by boat ramps at Cedar Point and Shell Rock last Saturday and there was little or no traffic though the weather remains nice enough for boating.

Skubinna said Hammocks Beach State Park is not the place for another boat ramp.

“I’m for a walking path, for a path for bicycling, for education programs, I’m for anything that’s not detrimental to our ecosystem,” Skubinna said.

SageDesign of Wilmington has been awarded a contract to develop a master plan for the 289-acres of undeveloped mainland property along Queens Creek that the state acquired from the Hurst family last year for $10 million as part of a settlement of a long-time legal challenge over the property’s ownership.

This week’s meeting was part of a first round of public input, which also includes a survey that is open through the end of October.

The survey can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/G6NXBRC or by completing a copy available at the Hammocks Beach State Park Visitor Center.

Alma Frantz and Don Russell of Emerald Isle completed the survey while attending the open house session.

The two visit the park often, and Frantz said she doesn’t want to see any activity that would threaten the natural state of the park or be detrimental to the quality of the surrounding waters.

“I just want them to maintain the natural state of the park and keep the water clean,” Frantz said.

Sara Burroughs of SageDesign said she was pleased with the turnout at the meeting and that there has been good response to the survey.

Burroughs said there have been more than 400 surveys submitted to date, with about 350 sent in online.

The more input received, the better.

“We’re trying to make sure we have a good perspective,” Burroughs said.

Nigel Clarke, planning and program manager with the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation, said the final conceptual plan presented by SageDesign will be the “basic roadmap” used in devising projects for the park master plan.

This week’s public meeting was part of a first round of public input. Clarke said SageDesign is working to gather all information and input it will need to develop a draft plan. Another round of public comment will be held after the draft plan is complete.

“If done properly this plan will be a reflection of the consensus of the public,” Clarke said.

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